Suffragists prove that Wisconsin ratified suffrage first

Claim Wisconsin First to O.K. Suffrage

In 1919, Wisconsin became the first state to ratify the national woman suffrage amendment. Wisconsin won this distinction because state Senator David G. James, father of prominent suffragist Ada James, hand-delivered the documents to Washington, D.C., just beating Illinois. The issue of who was really "first" remained an issue of some debate, though, and this article sought to put to rest Illinois's claim to the title.